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The greatest strength of potential Boxing Day Test debutant Scott Boland is that he is awkward to face, according to James Pattinson. It’s something opener Joe Burns can testify to, having shuffled out of the nets in much discomfort after being struck on the forearm during Wednesday’s session.
Australia are expected to name an unchanged attack for the second Test against the West Indies. However, selectors have made it clear how much they value bowlers capable of consistently hitting the 140 km/h mark. Boland is capable of doing that and plenty more, while the Victorian gave every indication he is ready for Test cricket during the squad’s first training session at the MCG.
“You want to make a good (first) impression and he definitely did that by all reports,” Pattinson said. “He bowled really well. Your first time in the squad is a bit nervous but you want to get out there and show everyone what you can do.”
Boland’s greatest hope of playing would seemingly be if Josh Hazlewood was rested. Team management have concerns about Hazlewood’s workloads but the NSW beanpole has enjoyed an extended break after the first Test. “Josh is pretty keen to play. He’s been in great form,” Pattinson said. “There’s going to be plenty of opportunities around. We would like to see three Victorians (in the attack) but I think Josh has been bowling pretty well lately so I’m not sure about that.”
Barring injury, the only other way Boland debuts in Melbourne is if Peter Siddle is dropped. It seems unlikely but Boland was the paceman who kept Siddle out of Victoria XI’s throughout the domestic one-day tournament in October.
“(Boland)’s probably been our best bowler in our current Shield season and obviously our best one-day bowler,” Pattinson said. “He deserves his chance and I’m sure he will do a great job.
Pattinson has played two Sheffield Shield games alongside Boland this season and been very impressed with the 26-year-old’s development. “His bowling has improved out of sight over the last few years,” he said. “He stands the seam up quite tall and gets the ball to move both ways. He actually gets a lot of bounce too. He’s quite a skiddy bowler so he’s on to you pretty quick too.”
David Warner tipped Boland could be a strike weapon if selected. “Steve (Smith) can use him as probably our pace bowler that can get up and in the rib cage,” Warner said.
Hazlewood, meanwhile, wants the Boxing Day Test to finish quickly but Australia’s spearhead knows patience will be key at the MCG. The NSW paceman may need to be rested for his home Test, the SCG series finale against West Indies. However, if the hosts crush the tourists inside three days at the MCG - as they did in the first Test in Hobart - then Hazlewood will be better placed to achieve his goal of playing all six Tests this summer.
“I’m feeling the same as I have before every other Test this summer. The body is feeling really good,” Hazlewood said on Christmas eve. “We obviously had a pretty decent break after Hobart. I’m feeling good. These two Tests (Melbourne and Sydney) are back to back but we’ll play it by ear and see how I go after this Test.”
Hazlewood knows it would be foolish to bowl at the MCG with a mindset of wanting the second Test to be over as quickly as possible. “Probably the more you try to wrap a game up quickly, you get impatient and get a bit greedy. You look to go after wickets,” he said. “As a bowling group the way we started in Tassie I think was perfect, nice and patient and built that pressure. Then the wickets came, so I think we’ll be looking to do that again.”
Hazlewood is yet to discuss the prospect of being rested with coach Darren Lehmann or any member of the team’s support staff. “There hasn’t been too much talk really,” he said. “We’re always monitoring, everyone really – the quicks in particular.”
But the 24-year-old took confidence from the fact he only bowled 28.3 overs in Hobart, where Australia cruised to victory on day three. “It really helped us (pacemen),” he said. “To have that extra long break, get some strength back in and recovery as well. All the quicks are good to go.”
